Greetings from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

As many of you know I have been ‘Living the Lifestyle‘ that I chose and created for myself. I am a firm believer of ‘just doing it’ and ‘making it happen!

I am currently travelling all over South Eastern Australia with my ‘business based on my laptop’> All that is needed is simply an internet connection and then I can work from anywhere in the world! This is allowing me to live life I want and experience the many new and exciting adventures that the Universe is placing before me 🙂

IT CAN BE DONE!

For nearly 3 weeks now I have driven over 2,500 klms (1553 mls) yet I have only seen such a very small part of this vast homeland we affectionately call the Land of Oz… i.e. Australia. And what a magnificent country it is! From the tropical rainforests that abound with life to the vast open plains of tawny coloured grasslands; from pyramid shaped hills and mountains covered in olive green Eucalyptus trees to the ever growing skyward city-scapes from where their suburban sprawls radiate out from.

From bright and often blinding sunshine to high winds and raging tempests……. to the softness of sleet falling upon ones face to the cold waters of the Bass straight awakening the spirit within.

We need to experience the changing of the seasons to renew and revitalize our body-clocks, especially those of us that reside in the sub-tropics or tropics of our north ( Southern Hemisphere). By having a ‘true’ winter occasionally, it will bring us in tune with Mother Earth and the elements that exist throughout the Universe from which we are made of.

JUST DO IT!

I am also meeting some beautiful people along the way and for the very first time :)…… many of whom have been my friends on Social media for many years. This enhances the friendships that have been created (well in most instances….in fact some of them may be glad to see me drive off!! hahaha).

However in all seriousness, it is a time for self growth thus learning more about oneself along the way.

I have dreams and certain goals but I am always flexible to make the changes that are necessary. Some of the goals and dreams were pathways to a greater experience, thus I opened myself up to the direction that was placed before me.

These goals and dreams are on what I prefer to call a ‘Life List’ as a ‘Bucket List’ is defined as something to do once and ‘tick it off’ once it is completed. I may well want to do all or some of what I have experienced already over and over again!

Restrictions, (other than legal or moral laws of course) are not in my vocabulary. My body might tell me you are not as fit as you used to be sometimes but that is ok… I do as much as I can and simply give it a go. I would rather have tried than had ‘regrets’…another of those words I try never to use. Perhaps ‘misgivings’ for want of a better word…. for not of at least trying!!

LIVE AND EXPERIENCE YOUR LIFE’S LIST

So let me ask you this!….. Are you living your life? If not why not? And once you have come up with all the usual excuses, sit back and think about your dreams and goals and see that the reasons you are NOT living your life is because you are making excuses when you should be making choices!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE’S DIRECTION. IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU!

Life has not been easy for me either at times, especially over the last 9 years or so. I have made certain choices and experienced massive learning curves. But you know what? I have LIVED! I have NO regrets just lessons learnt. I have found ways and made changes to be where I am now. And no, it is not always easy but life is a continual process, not one to stuck inside a small box and vegetate. LIVE IT!

So no more ‘I can’t afford it or I don’t have the time.’ YOU can and you do if you choose too….

Once again my own mindset is in alignment with others. I am ready to take my ‘Bardic Gypsy’ tour from June this year to…….. whatever and wherever the Universe takes me.

Catriona Pollard is another I subscribe to both in the physical sense to her mailing list but more importantly to her mindset, her values and her guidance.

So I share with you now her Email about Solitude and recharging that which is within. Part of the reason behind my road trip is to have that solitude, recharge my soul and experience the many wonders that Mother earth has out there waiting for us.

I am creating the life I wish to lead. No one else will do it for you. Many long hours and sacrifices have got me to this point where I can live the the ‘Laptop lifestyle’ I yearn for…. yes there are still some issues to overcome, but they are all external issues. In my heart and in my soul I know it is right for ME!

Why solitude is good for business and your life
by Today’s Guest Blogger Catriona Pollard

Over Easter I decided to have a holiday on my own. I’m not talking about booking a room at a fancy hotel for a couple of days R&R. I chose to walk about half of the world famous (and gorgeously beautiful) Great Ocean Walk in Victoria on my own.

While I’m a born hiker, I’ve never walked on my own. Some of my friends and family were concerned, but I just knew I would be okay.

The thing was. I craved solitude.

Why it was joyful

I loved the solitude because I deliberately chose it. It didn’t have any tinge of loneliness because it was self imposed and intentional which felt positive. It allowed a settling of thoughts and a burst of creativity. It allowed me to simply let ideas and concepts float to the surface.

Walking with butterflies

I didn’t need to fit in with other’s priorities or needs, just my own. So often in our lives – personal and professional – we can walk on paths that others choose for us – or that circumstances of life chooses for us.

As I was walking all I could hear were my footsteps, the crashing of waves against the massive cliffs and the rustling of gum leaves in the trees. At times, I was joined by butterflies as I walked my path. And it truly felt like my path.

Connected but isolated

Even though I was on my own I felt really connected. So incredibly connected to the world around me, to my creativity, to my thoughts and ideas, to my sense of self and to the people who texted me every evening to make sure I was safe.

Seeing the beauty

As I walked I took the time to create ephemeral sculptures. Finding interesting sticks, stones – whatever caught my eye, I created sculptures which I simply left there. This practice represents the transitory nature of our lives, our problems and issues we face. We can create beauty from simple things around us.

My walk was a gift to myselfMy limbs were aching, my toenails bruised, and as I finished the last few kilometres I felt like a warrior woman. You know the “hear me roar” kind of feeling. I’m now back in front of my computer with renewed energy for myself and my business!

P.S. I ran a session last week for top level executives about personal branding and media. You know, I just love teaching people about these topics. Chat with me about speaking or training in your organisation.Contact me here.

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‘The universe is composed of subjects to be communed with, not objects to be exploited. Everything has its own voice. Thunder and lightening and stars and planets, flowers, birds, animals, trees — all these have voices and they constitute a community of existence that is profoundly related.‘
~ Thomas Berry ~
(Image: ‘Stained Glass Wing’ – Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly by Pieter Van Dokkum)

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” Why do we close our eyes when we pray, cry, kiss, dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt only by the heart. “

As I have grown that little bit older AND been placed in some rather humbling situations, I know this to be true my friends.

A prayer is an inner most expression of what we are feeling in our hearts…. a dream is the working of our soul, correlating these feelings so that we might understand them in context whilst our physical body is at rest.

Most of the time though, we simply wish to savour the moment; appreciate; delight in and enjoy to the full these magnificent experiences. They are all heartfelt moments … and whilst a tear can be shed in joy, it may too be released in sorrow. So it is then that we must close our eyes in the feint hope that this moment, this pain we are feeling, is not real and that somehow it might disappear, thus protecting our delicate hearts…..

Yet, in my humble opinion and experience, to feel the sensation of a loving kiss, an exchange of charged energy on copious levels, is one that truly represents that which is felt directly from ones heart.

The cop, with his lights flashing and hand on holster, was leaning on the roof of the car as the poor guy fumbled for his driver’s license and whatever else the cop asked him for.

The moment barely registered in my sleepy mind before I noticed that a different cop was now following me. I had been getting drowsy from a long drive and was no doubt weaving like a guy with nine beers in him.

What happened next is probably something you’ve experienced once or twice in your life.

Instantly wide awake, I scanned my instruments and saw that my speed was about two ticks over the speed limit; well within legal range. I felt my foot lighten and the engine give in just a bit.

My thoughts went from “License is up to date, registration is good, insurance is paid in full…” to “What’s to worry about? to “WHAT’S THE DEAL?!?!”

Then came the lights.. Not the cop’s headlights, or the flashing red and blue overheads… but all of them.

Instantly my brain lit up and flooded my bloodstream with adrenaline…just as the cop pulled away and raced off to whatever crisis she’d been dispatched to.

Damn…that was close. And I was left feeling a mixture of relief, annoyance and exhaustion as my adrenaline dissipated. (And maybe a hint of “amused”…)

Ever experienced that?

Almost everyone has, and not just while sitting behind the wheel of an automobile.

Sometimes, we see evidence of someone going through a tough time; could be a broken relationship, a career rut, a financial flatline or a stagnating business. We slow down and observe from the relative safety of our own “driver’s seat”…until the cop pulls in behind us.

We look down at our metaphorical speedometer and see that we’ve been racing along mindlessly and fallen behind on our goals.

We realize our driver’s license of life has expired due to our own negligence and inattentiveness.

And due to our focus on the “small” stuff (bills, nagging neighbors, bickering family members, increasing waistlines…) we start to drift out of the lane that is supposed to take us to our dream, to our mission.

We are literally asleep at the wheel of our business and life. And now that cop called REALITY is pulling us over. Or worse; we never wake up, and drive off into the oblivion of a mediocre life.

You can either fight through it on your own, mask the sleepiness with the “caffeine” of another escapism TV program or social media binge…

TAUGHT BY

Eric Campbell

“My name is Eric Campbell and I am about to enter my senior year at Penn State University. I have tried almost every type of online business you can imagine. In the process, I have made $10,000+ and also lost $1,000’s. Over the years I realized my gift is taking in a lot of information eliminating all the B.S. and just focusing on what matters. Now I teach the most valuable insights and lessons that I learn through Udemy courses, ebooks and emails. I’m currently teaching 5 online courses with a total of 18,147 students. These courses have a total of 143 reviews with an average rating of 4.5+/5 stars.”

Testimony….I was looking for a straight to the point and clear to understand course on how to sell on FBA, and this is it. I now feel very confident in becoming a successful seller on Amazon. I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to start an online business! – Angela Alale

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‘Listening to music at lower volumes helps creativity while loud music hinders it’….I have always prescribed to the fact that music has inspired my artistic side. When I was drawing or sketching years ago, I would choose appropriate music to play in the background (at the volume I wanted and often under headphones) to set the mood for the theme of my work.

I was in fact creating a musical ambiance to assist in stimulating my imaginative juices to flow through to my drawing implement. The music also served to muffle the sounds of the day to day grind that was going on around me, allowing me to escape to the world that I wished to portray on my sheet of art paper.

Similarly whilst I write, I often have a background ‘sound’to place me in the right frame of mind depending on the topic that I am writing about and the time of the day that I chose to write it. This can be anytime over a twenty four hour period and I have often been known to awake at the witching hour of 3AM with many an idea. Of course then I DO place the headphones on 😉

So you may ask what I am listening to as I write this….“Michael, what are you listening to as you write this ;)’!!! Well actually I am not listening to music as such but I am sitting back in bed with my laptop chillaxing to the ‘Rain sounds with Tibetan Singing Bowls and Birds chirping! Seek it out on Youtube, you will be amazed at the variety of music and sounds available there.

Music not only serves to stimulate the creative juices but can also help in calming a restful spirit. It can assist those suffering from grief, illness or anxiety. It has served me well in all those circumstances……

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